Rumor: Next Plants vs. Zombies Inspired by Team Fortress 2

Former EA Black Box developers may be taking the Plants vs. Zombies series in an unexpected direction.

Plants vs. Zombies has appeared on numerous platforms since its PC release in 2009, becoming one of PopCap's most successful and critically acclaimed games. It's only fitting that the developer would want to continue the series, but the next Plants vs. Zombies title may not utilize the original's tower defense gameplay. According to industry sources and a mysterious PopCap Games job listing, the follow-up to Plants vs. Zombies could be a multiplayer shooter.

While this rumor is unconfirmed, Kotaku's sources told the website that a small team at PopCap was working on a Plants vs. Zombies console game "in the vein of Team Fortress 2." The development team is reportedly made mostly of former EA Black Box members, and the project is in the early stages. If the sources are correct, it will be submitted for PopCap's final approval later this month.

An expired PopCap job listing may be related to the rumored Plants vs. Zombies shooter; the position, Multiplayer Designer, required "previous experience as a Multiplayer Level Designer on a shipped shooter or action title."

Of course, even if developers are working on a Plants vs. Zombies multiplayer shooter, it may not receive final approval from PopCap. Also, "in the vein of Team Fortress 2" could refer to the art style and not necessarily the gameplay. The over-the-top style of Team Fortress would be a good fit for the series, though it would still be a bit strange to see it stray so far from its tower defense roots.